Work Zone Safety

Drivers and passengers in motor vehicles account for nearly 98 percent of the fatalities in work zones, and 96 percent of the injuries. An average of nearly 6,800 work zone motor vehicle crashes annually in Illinois, resulting in 1,893 injuries.

IRTBA works diligently to ensure Illinois' transportation network is safe for all users - including motorists, pedestrians, construction and maintenance workers, and passengers. Our Construction & Work Zone Safety Committee provides knowledge transfer of safety matters to members through training opportunities of value and relevance, review of OSHA regulations, and member citations to provide assistance resolving safety matters and improving safety throughout the transportation industry. IRTBA provides safety tips and resources accessible to members of the public here on our webpage.

Follow the Laws

Texting, emailing and surfing the internet while driving is illegal.

Talking on a cell phone in a work zone or a school zone is illegal.

Workers do not need to be present for work zone laws to apply - uneven pavement, changing traffic patterns, narrower lanes, and heavy equipment frequently moving in and out of work zones require reduced posted speed limits for the benefit of motorist and worker safety.

Illinois uses Photo Speed Enforcement when workers are present.

Drivers must abide by Scott’s Law, which requires them to yield to emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles and workers, when possible.

Texting, emailing and surfing the internet while driving is illegal.

Talking on a cell phone in a work zone or a school zone is illegal.

Fines for speeding violations in work zones begin at $375.

Workers do not need to be present for work zone laws to apply.

Court appearances are mandatory for speeding violations in work zones.

Illinois uses Photo Speed Enforcement when workers are present.

Drivers must abide by Scott’s Law, which requires them to yield to emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles and workers, if possible. Enhanced penalties apply in the event of property damage, injury, or death under Scott’s Law.

Severe Penalties

Fines for speeding violations in work zones begin at $375 for the first offense. The fine for a second speeding offense in a work zone is a $1,000 minimum. Court appearances are mandatory for speeding violations in work zones.

Enhanced penalties apply in the event of property damage, injury, or death under Scott’s Law. Hitting a worker in a work zone could result in a fine of $10,000 and up to 14 years in jail.

Know the Facts

Drivers and passengers are more likely to be injured and are more likely to be killed in a work zone than workers. In 2016 crash data, the most current, complete data available in 2018, there were 161 drivers injured and 22 driver fatalities in work zone crashes. 71 passengers in work zone crashes experienced injuries and 18 were killed in 2016. Construction workers saw 8 injuries and 1 death in work zone crashes in 2016.

Of the total work zone crashes (6,741) in 2016, 37 of those crashes were fatal, killing 44 people and injuring 1,893 people. Urban roadways are also much more likely to experience a work zone crash. In 2016, 5,979 work zone crashes were on urban roadways, as compared to 762 crashes on rural roadways.

In 2016, there were 44 deaths in work zones. Of those:

1 was a construction worker

22 were drivers

18 were passengers

1 were motorcyclist

2 were pedestrians

What You Can Do?

Never use a cell phone or text.

Expect the unexpected.

Slow down and do not tailgate.

Obey road crew flaggers.

Be patient and stay calm.

Pay attention to lane changes, incidents, and warnings.

Watch for workers.

Move over & reduce speed for emergency vehicles.

If you must pull over or are in an accident in the work zone, stay in your vehicle and call *999 for non-emergency road assistance.